Akron Lets a Fan Call Plays as Group of 6 Schools Seek New Ways to Stay Relevant
With revenue sharing reshaping college football's financial landscape heading into 2026, smaller conference programs are turning to unconventional tactics — including handing a fan control of a play call — to keep fans engaged, according to ESPN.
College football's Group of 6 conferences are experimenting with unusual promotional tactics as they navigate a changing financial landscape shaped by revenue sharing, according to a report from ESPN.
Among the examples cited by ESPN is Akron, which allowed a fan to serve as an offensive coordinator and call a drive during a game, a stunt intended to draw attention to the program and boost fan engagement.
The report frames the move as part of a broader effort by Group of 6 schools — a term used to describe conferences outside the sport's wealthiest Power 4 leagues — to remain relevant as revenue sharing arrangements give bigger-budget programs even greater financial advantages heading into the 2026 season.
ESPN's report suggests that with fewer resources than Power 4 counterparts, Group of 6 programs are increasingly relying on creative, fan-facing initiatives to sustain interest and visibility in a sport where financial disparities between conferences continue to widen.
Further details on Akron's promotion and other strategies being adopted across Group of 6 programs were outlined in ESPN's original report.
Sources
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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